Guild Wars 2

I know there have a bunch of threads on the names of specific elite specializations, but isn’t the way elite specializations are named as a whole kinda strange? Core specializations have a “discipline” type naming scheme, which makes it easy to say something like:

Oh, I specialize in Zeal.
I specialize in Skirmishing!
I specialize in Earth.
I specialize in Curses.

Elite specializations have a “profession” naming scheme, so we end up having to say this:

I’m a Chronomancer.
I’m a Reaper.
I’m a Dragonhunter.

Because “I specialize in Druid” doesn’t really work.

I guess it could be a new convention that elite specializations are more “defining” for characters and therefore they deserve these more “solid” names, but it seems kinda weird because they’re presented together in the UI, in the same list and stuff.

tldr:

Corruption, Tactics, Alchemy, Skirmishing, Shadow Arts, Arcane, Inspiration, Death Magic… Dragonhunter.

They don’t match.

Shouldn’t it be more like:

Dragonhunter -> Faith
Herald -> Revelation
Beserker -> Temper
Unknown -> Smithing
Druid -> Botany
Daredevil -> Bravery
Tempest -> Energy
Chronomancer -> Chronomancy
Reaper -> Terror

These names are all terrible, and you could probably think of much better ones.

They covered this when they did a blog on specializations.
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-two-reward-tracks-and-elite-specializations/

“When Heart of Thorns goes live, each profession will receive one elite specialization to supplement its five core specializations. We like to describe builds using the new system in two ways:

I am a(n) {profession name} specializing in {Spec #1}, {Spec #2}, and {Spec #3}. i.e., I am a ranger specializing in Marksmanship, Wilderness Survival, and Beastmastery.
I am a(n) {elite spec} specializing in {Spec #2}, and {Spec #3}. i.e., I am a druid specializing in Nature Magic and Skirmishing."

I agree that they should have kept the core Profession names instead of trying to make sub-professions with the elite specializations.

However they will be releasing new profession icons for each new elite specialization. So when you pick the Druid specialization, you will no longer appear as a Ranger but as a Druid.

Jon Peters gave an interview with TenTonHammer 3 months ago saying this:

“Also, the more stuff you add to an existing profession, the harder it is when you see that profession to know what it is they do. We haven’t revealed this yet, but with elite specializations, each one is going to have its own unique profession icon and to help call it out as different from the existing profession. We really are treating them as something different. So when you make your ranger a druid, you are a druid, you have a druid profession icon and players can know that’s a druid and they have a good idea of what a druid does and what the druid profession mechanics are. That means as we continually add more and more of these elite specs, there’s a sense of when you see them in the world, you have a pretty good idea of what they do.”

At the moment the naming seems a bit random, but when the icons are released. We’ll stop seeing the elite specializations on par with the core ones but as “new” professions. That is if they are still planning on releasing new icons. I hope so.

But my personal preference would have been to keep a Mesmer as a Mesmer, no matter which elite specialization they pick. It’ll just get confusing with more profession icons than letters of the Alphabet.

LadySuccubus.4752:

Shouldn’t it be more like:

Dragonhunter -> Faith
Herald -> Revelation
Beserker -> Temper
Unknown -> Smithing
Druid -> Botany
Daredevil -> Bravery
Tempest -> Energy
Chronomancer -> Chronomancy
Reaper -> Terror

These names are all terrible, and you could probably think of much better ones.

No it shouldn’t. Because you specialize on a whole new level, effectively becoming something else. None of these 1 worders also give the theme behind an eltie spec. There is absolutely nothing to warrant Faith instead of Dragonhunter.

Names of elite specs are supposed to give an idea about how they work, what’s their vibe and what can you expect them to have from their name.

Why would Herald have Revelation? He didn;t have revelation or anything. What would be the point if it’s not thematically consistent. That’s why they name it the way they do.

You don’t say “i specialize in druid” but instead “i am a druid”.

I know I’m replying kinda late, but I guess I somehow completely missed that blog post and interview. Thank you! It makes more sense if they plan to create new icons and make elite specializations a bigger thing once HoT comes out. Looking forward to seeing that!